先下手为强
xiān xià shǒu wéi qiáng
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1 strike first and gain the upper hand (idiom, martial arts term); Making the first move is an advantage.
先斩后奏
xiān zhǎn hòu zòu
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1 first decapitate then present your trophy (idiom); act first, report later
先发制人
xiān fā zhì rén
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1 to gain the initiative by striking first (idiom); to preempt
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2 to anticipate
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3 preemptive
先睹为快
xiān dǔ wéi kuài
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1 joy of first experience (idiom)
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2 the pleasure of reading sth for the first time
先礼后兵
xiān lǐ hòu bīng
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1 peaceful measures before using force (idiom); diplomacy before violence
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2 jaw-jaw is better than war-war
兵马未动，粮草先行
bīng mǎ wèi dòng , liáng cǎo xiān xíng
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1 before the troops move, fodder and provisions go first (idiom); logistics comes before military maneuvers
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2 an army marches on its stomach
胜者王侯败者寇
shèng zhě wáng hóu bài zhě kòu
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1 the winners become princes and marquises; the losers are vilified as bandits (idiom)
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2 history is written by the victors
大水冲了龙王庙
dà shuǐ chōng le Lóng Wáng miào
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1 lit. surging waters flooded the Dragon King temple (idiom)
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2 fig. to fail to recognize a familiar person
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3 a dispute between close people who fail to recognize each other
工欲善其事，必先利其器
gōng yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì
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1 To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
成则为王，败则为寇
chéng zé wéi wáng , bài zé wéi kòu
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1 lit. called a king if successful, called a bandit if defeated (idiom)
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2 fig. losers are always in the wrong
捷足先登
jié zú xiān dēng
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1 the quick-footed climb up first (idiom)
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2 the early bird catches the worm
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3 first come, first served
擒贼擒王
qín zéi qín wáng
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1 to defeat the enemy by capturing their chief (idiom)
敢为人先
gǎn wéi rén xiān
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1 to dare to be first
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2 to pioneer (idiom)
春江水暖鸭先知
chūn jiāng shuǐ nuǎn yā xiān zhī
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1 lit. the duck is the first to know if the spring water is warm (idiom)
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2 fig. an expert in the field knows which way the wind blows
欲善其事，必先利其器
yù shàn qí shì , bì xiān lì qí qì
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1 To do a good job, an artisan needs the best tools (idiom). Good tools are prerequisite to the successful execution of a job
混世魔王
hùn shì mó wáng
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1 devil incarnate (idiom)
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2 fiend in human form
溘先朝露
kè xiān zhāo lù
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1 the morning dew will swiftly dissipate (idiom); fig. ephemeral and precarious nature of human existence
争先恐后
zhēng xiān kǒng hòu
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1 striving to be first and fearing to be last (idiom); outdoing one another
王婆卖瓜，自卖自夸
wáng pó mài guā , zì mài zì kuā
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1 every potter praises his own pot (idiom)
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2 all one's geese are swans
王顾左右而言他
wáng gù zuǒ yòu ér yán tā
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1 the king looked left and right and then talked of other things
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2 to digress from the topic of discussion (idiom)